Capital Chat

Summer joins Capital Chat to share information about the upcoming writer's retreat at the Shrine coming up September 4th. This year’s writing retreat at the beautiful Shrine of St. Therese offers an opportunity to quiet our busy minds and connect more deeply with Lingit’ Aani,’ senses open, pen & paper in hand, as summer transitions to autumn. Morning will be spent in mindful walking and writing practices, readings and optional feedback on our writing. Afternoon will allow free time to walk, read, and write on your own; evening will be for group readings of our work and reflections on what it means to write in the wild, both physically and metaphorically. Together, we’ll walk and write toward a deepened sense of peace and reciprocity with the land and sea that nourishes us. All writing levels welcome.

DAILY AGENDA:

 Thursday, September 4

∙       3 – 6 pm Arrive, unpack, explore and journal

∙       6:15 pm DINNER: meal provided, preparation and clean-up shared

∙       7:30 – 9 pm Introductions, short generative exercise with prompt & chat

Friday, September 5

∙       8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙       9:30 -12 pm: Walking Meditation/Discussion of Readings (sent in advance) and Writing Practice

∙       12:15-1:15 pm LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (dinner leftovers or whatever you bring from home)

∙       1:30-3 pm Walking & Writing practice–with choice from three provided prompts

∙       3-6 pm Free time. Write, read, walk labyrinth, exercise, nap or whatever feels right

∙       6:15 pm DINNER – Meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙       7:30 – 9 pm: All Group Reading

Saturday, September 6

∙       8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙       9:30 -12 pm: Walking and Writing/Optional feedback on your writing (sent in advance)

∙       12:15-1:15 pm LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (dinner leftovers or whatever you bring from home)

∙       1:30-3 pm Walking & Writing practice–with choice of prompts

∙       3-6 pm Free time. Write, read, walk labyrinth, exercise, nap or whatever works for you.

∙       6:15 pm DINNER – Meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙       7:30 – 9 pm: All Group Reading

Sunday, September 7

∙  8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared; pack up

∙  9:30 – 10:15 am Next Steps/Closing Thoughts

∙ 10:15 – 11 am Pack up and Cleanup/Farewells

This retreat is open to members of 49 Writers only. Space is limited, so don’t hesitate to reserve your spot today! Member price: $525/person room and board included. 

About our guest instructor:

Brendan Isaac Jones is a novelist, essayist, and journalist focused on environmental issues concerning the Tongass rainforest in Alaska. He is the author of the young adult novel Whispering Alaska, winner of a Green Book Award, and the Alaskana award winning novel The Alaskan Laundry, also longlisted for a First Novel Prize by the Center for Fiction. His essays and works of literary journalism have appeared in The New York Times, The Smithsonian, The Huffington Post, Narrative Magazine, the Anchorage Daily News, and NPR. He is a graduate of Oxford University and Stanford University, where he was awarded a Stegner Fellowship in fiction, and a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Russia. He lives in Sitka with his wife and three daughters. Learn more about Brendan and his work at https://www.brendanisaacjones.com/

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Heather from Juneau's Community Garden joins Capital Chat to discuss the community event coming up on August 30th. The Juneau Community Garden Association is a non-profit organization of local gardening enthusiasts formed in 1990. By arrangement with the City and Borough of Juneau, four acres of public land are made available for gardening, education, and charitable use.

The garden is located at 5669 Montana Creek Road on the left side about 2/3 of a mile after you turn off Mendenhall Loop Road. The mailing address is:

Juneau Community Garden
PO Box 33395
Juneau 99803

Until 100 years ago the area was covered by glacial ice. It served as a race track, sawmill, archery range, and garbage dump before conversion to garden plots. Raised beds, storage and event buildings, pump and water system, and fencing have been constructed, and lots of soil has been formed. Members tend community flower & herb beds, and plots dedicated to growing food for local charities.

The JCGA now has 168 plots and 29 small beds for climbing plants. Vacancy rate is low. Garden members in good standing may retain their plot(s) year to year.

Plots cost $35 per season plus 5 hours of volunteer service. Climbing beds are $5 per season plus 1 hour of service . Established members may have up to two plots per person, as well as two climbing beds.

The JCGA hosts several events each season, all open to the public.

New GM Craig Cimmons joins Capital Chat to discuss the new season. Eaglecrest is Juneau, Alaska’s community-owned and operated ski area with big mountain terrain, 1620′ vertical drop, 640+ acres, impressive backcountry access, untracked powder, and hardly a lift line! Find us on Douglas Island, only a 15-minute drive from Downtown Juneau!

The best way to support Eaglecrest is by purchasing a Season Pass. You can also donate to the Eaglecrest Foundation. Adult lift tickets are only $75, and you can save more by purchasing a Flex Pass or Multi-Visit Card. Get introduced to the sport with Eaglecrest’s Snowsport School!

Eaglecrest’s regular operating schedule is Wednesday through Sunday with daily operations over Christmas Break, Spring Break, MLK Day, and Presidents’ Day.

The Marine View Mural Project team invites Juneau artists to take part in a collaborative and educational public art initiative! This project is open to high school students, university students, and adult artists in any stage of their career. 

Participants will receive hands-on guidance in the form of a month-long educational workshop from experienced muralists and public artists, gaining insight into scaling artwork for large surfaces, navigating the legal aspects of public art, and learning the full mural creation process. All supplies will be provided. 

Selected participants must agree to attend the workshop in Juneau on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30-5pm during the month of January 2026. A $50 registration fee will be charged to the selected participants prior to the start of the workshop. Scholarships may be made available if the registration fee is a financial burden. 

Completed murals will be installed on the Marine View Parking Garage and remain on display for the duration of at least one year. 

Only 12 artists will be selected. A committee will review applications based on artistic creativity and the strength of the proposed design, with a focus on broad representation from the local arts community. Learn more and apply here! https://www.jahc.org/mv-murals/

Dr. Aparna Palmer, Chancellor at the University of Alaska Southeast joins us to talk about the first day of school. Aparna is responsible for leading the university in fulfilling its educational mission. Before coming to UAS, Dr. Palmer was a Professor of Biology for 22 years at Colorado Mesa University where she eventually became the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. She then served as Vice President at Front Range Community College and was responsible for the leadership of two of the College’s campuses in Northern Colorado.

Dr. Palmer holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.A. in English from Colorado State University as well as a Ph.D. in Zoology from Washington State University. As a marine biologist, she studies the natural histories and genetics of water bears and seaworms.

St. Vincent de Paul's Whale Watching event takes place this Sunday. St. Vincent provides material and spiritual charity and works for social justice for all people. Whether it is the working poor, disabled individuals, or seniors living on social security, every person deserves a roof over their head, a place to call home, and adequate clothing for themselves and their families.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Therese Conference (SVdP) has been a leader in Southeastern Alaska providing affordable housing to those transitioning from homelessness, and poverty into permanent

JAMI is holding a 40th anniversary party this Saturday at 4pm at the Pioneer Pavilion. 

In the early 1990’s JAMI DBA JAMI/NAMI began providing general mental health and emergency services; in 2000 became the state designated community behavioral health center for Juneau, Gustavus, Elfin Cove and Tenakee Springs; in 2002 renaming to JAMHI: Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc.

The JAMHI service array continued to grow beyond residential and basic services through the 2000s with a heightened focus on serving people with co-occurring disorders, the implementation of evidence-based practices, expansion of medical and drop-in services, development of same-day access capacity and the organization was accredited in 2011.

The countdown is on to the 10 Thousand Dollar Duck Derby on Saturday, August 23rd at Twin Lakes! Get your lucky ducks at juneauduckderby.com for your chance to win a share of $10,000 in cash and prizes. Glacier Valley Rotary hosts the annual Duck Derby as a a fundraiser to support many community projects including youth scholarships, upgrades to Riverside Rotary Park and more.

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum fosters among its diverse audiences an awareness of Juneau’s cultural heritage, values and community memory so we may draw strength and perspective from the past, inspire learning, and find purpose for the future. As a public trust, we collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit those materials that document the cultures and history of the Juneau and Douglas area.

On today's episode of Capital Chat; Theater Alaska’s premiere of Spencer Edgar’s short opera, LITTLE THINGS as part of their event Opera Alaska: A  Captivating Celebration of Opera on August 9th and 10th at Thunder Mountain Middle School 

Spencer Edgers

Spencer Edgers is a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans opera, film, and multimedia. Based in Southeast Alaska, he has premiered operas with Seattle Opera’s Creation Lab, scored award-winning short films, and arranged for the Juneau Symphony. His next opera, Little Things, premieres with Theater Alaska and Orpheus Project on August 9th, 2025.

Todd Hunt (Orpheus Project)

Todd Hunt is a familiar contributor to Juneau’s rich musical scene, serving as artistic director of The Orpheus Project, conductor of the Amalga Chamber Orchestra, composer, as well as a performer on clarinet with the Hot Club of Juneau, the Juneau Symphony, Con Brio Chamber Series, and is a founding member of the Icefield Quartet.

Flordelino Lagundino (Theater Alaska)

Flordelino Lagundino is a producer, director, and actor, currently serving as Producing Artistic Director of Theater Alaska. He has led Park Square Theatre, Generator Theater, and Leviathan Lab, and worked as associate producer at La Jolla Playhouse. His producing work centers on bold, inclusive storytelling across stage and community settings.